Peder thoresen



(No Modem P. THORESEN.

FIRE ESCAPE.

No. 459,319. Patented Sept. 8, 1891.

A Z'TOHNE YS @Ntra STATES nfrnwfr QFFICE.

FEDER THORESEN, .OF SVELVIG, NORVAY.

FIRE-ESCAPE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 459,319, dated September 8, 1891. Application filed April 3, 1891. lSerial No. 387,525. (No model.) Patented in Norway June 1S, 1890, No. 1,691.

T0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FEDER THoREsnN, sausage-maker, a subject of the King of Norway, and a resident of Svelvig, Norway, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in `Fire-Escapes, (for which I have received Letters Patent ot Norway, No. 1,691, dated June 18, 1890,) ot which the following is a specification. v

My invention relates to improvements in iire-escapes5 and the object of the invention 1s to produce a fire-escape of simple construction, which may be quickly secured in position upon a burning building, and by means of which the occupants of the building may quickly and safely descend to the ground.

To this end myinvention consists in a [ireescape constructed substantially as hereinafter described and claimed.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification,

Yin which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the re-escape as applied to a building. Fig. 2 is an edge View of the same, the building being shown in section; and Fig. 8 is an enlarged detail View, partly in section, of the main chtite and the clamping device by means ot" which it is suspended from a window.

In carrying out myinvention the buildings on which the nre-escape is to be used are provided with pulleys a, ot any suitable construction, which are suspended at intervals along theA upper portion of the building and above the windows, and small wire ropes are arranged upon the pulleys, so that when the nre-escape is to be used larger ropes b may be secured to them and the larger ropes hauled up over the pulleys.

The hre-escape is provided with a main chute c, which is preferably in tubular form,

and is made of canvas or other strong mate-y rial, which is corded to increase its strength. The cloth may be made of one piece or of several smaller lengths, which are clasped together, and when made in this way the upper portions should overlap the lower on the inside, so that the chute will be smooth on the inside. The upper end of the chute is suspended on a bar d, which bar is hinged, as

shown at d', so that it may be swung hori- Zontally, and the bar carries a fixed jaw e and a movable jaw f, which latter is arranged on the inner threaded end of the rod opposite the fixed jaw. The lower end ofthe xed jaw e is connected with the outer end ot1 the bar d by a diagonal brace-rod d2, which is also hinged at d.

The movable jaw is adjusted by means of a hand-nut g. The bar d is provided with a chain h, which has a central loop i, and the apparatus may be raised by means of the chain in the manner described below. The chute is provided with a bent rod 7c at or near its top, which holds it open, so that the people in a building can easily enter it.

A cord Z is secured to the central portion of the chain t and extends downward through the chute, and this cord affords a convenient hand-hold, so that a person descending through the chute may grasp it, and thus regulate the velocity of his descent. The chute is provided at intervals with handles m, so that when it is used the people below may grasp the handles and carry out the lower end of the chute, so that it shall have the proper inclination.

The tire-escape is adjusted and operated in the following manner: The main rope is drawn up through the pulley a and a person is drawn up by the rope, and the chute is raised at the same time or afterwardv by means of the chain h. The person who has gone up with the device then clamps the bar CZ to the sill E of a window, which is done by fixing the jaw e upon the outside-ot the sill and forcing the jawfagainst the inner side of the sill, as shown in Fig. 2. The bar d may then be swung so that the chute will extend downward parallel with the building or outward from it, and the people who are to descend jump into the chute, grasp the cord l, and slide downward through it. The lower end of the chute is meanwhile held at the proper inclination by people below, who grasp the handles m.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. In a tire-escape, the horizontal supporting-bar d, hinged between its ends, as at d',

and provided with handles, and a cord eX- -tending downward Athrough the chute, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name, in presence of two Witnesses, this 27th day of August, 1890.

PEDER THORESEN. Y

Witnesses:

PETER SVENTAD, AXEL GOTTFRED GRNN LAHN. 

